MICHAEL Appleton thinks his Blackpool side created enough chances to win two games on Saturday.
The Seasiders battled back from a goal down to earn a point at Bristol City in a game they really should have won.
Pool created chance after chance only for a debatable penalty decision to hand the home side the lead.
Tom Ince replied from the spot in injury time to secure a second successive draw for new Pool boss Appleton.
But asked if a draw was a fair result, the manager said: “You’re joking, aren’t you?
“I didn’t see them scoring a goal all day. I think we could have been there for a couple of weeks and I couldn’t see them scoring.
“I was disappointed with the penalty given against us. I didn’t think it should have been given, but obviously I’m going to say that.
“I thought we got a deserved penalty to take a point. It would have been a travesty if we’d taken nothing out of that game.
“We created some wonderful opportunities. We just weren’t able to take them.”
Appleton was unhappy with referee Gavin Ward’s penalty award 10 minutes from time, when Matt Gilks clashed with Albert Adomah.
With the Bristol City winger heading away from goal, Appleton felt his side were hard done by.
He said: “The lads were saying they thought the referee had given a goal-kick and he may have changed his mind when he saw the reaction of the fans. The biggest thing from my point of view is that two weeks on the trot we’ve dealt with disappointment really well and got back into the game.
“I thought we did well. We certainly created enough opportunities to win comfortably.
“Obviously I’d like to see a couple of those chances taken. That would make my life, and everyone else’s, much easier.”
Appleton had spent his first full week at Bloomfield Road working on two sides of the game he thinks his new side struggle with – defending and fitness. And he was pleased with both aspects at Ashton Gate.
“You don’t create opportunities like we did at the end of the game if you’re not fit,” he added. “I think already we’re showing signs of being fitter, bigger and stronger.
“The longer the game went on, the stronger we got but we need to be more clinical.
“You’ll hear me saying this after every single game, but the first goal is crucial. It’s very important we get the first goal.
“A side like us will be very, very dangerous if we can get the first goal.
“It would make teams come out and play against us, and that’s when I think we’ll be able to really open them up.
“If you look at all levels of football the stats tell you that if you score first you are very unlikely to lose the game. That what we are looking to do.”
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